Wednesday, March 9, 2016

EPA Preparing Roadside Ditch Grab

Improved management of roadside ditches may present an underused, cost-effective
opportunity for improving water quality in the Chesapeake region, according to a new report from an advisory committee of scientific experts.

It's easy to get a report from an advisory committee of scientific experts to tell you what you want to hear when you get to decide who the scientific experts are.

Ditches that run alongside roads and highways may not be the first image that comes to mind when considering water quality. But the thousands of miles of roadside ditches in the Bay region can have a significant impact on the health of local waters—contributing to flooding, pollution, erosion and degraded habitats. In the report, experts from the Bay Program’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) explore the subject and suggest potential means to improve ditch management in the region.

I have no doubt that the experts will come back with recommendations for the EPA, and various state agencies to create and enforce a variety of regulations designed to increase the size of the agencies, and reduce the rights of land holders.